Getting back into erging post covid?

[robhely]

Just to be clear, I'm not seeking medical advice, just opinions as I find it incredibly helpful to learn from the anecdotal experiences of others. This is often better than some "one size fits all" prescription, which is probably based on anecdotal experience anyway... And my doctor is on holiday

I've had covid for the first time and whilst it was pretty rough for the first 15 hours, it's been mostly just like a mild cold. It's been 9 days since I tested postive and apart from mildly blocked sinuses, I feel fine, have lots of energy and am chomping at the bit to get back on the erg. The big question is: how soon is too soon?

Obviously I don't plan to race my way into a FM or anything silly like that, but I was wondering when it might be OK to slowly easy back into some slow UT2 sessions.

For others who've had covid, how soon did you get back on the erg and what was your recommended strategy to avoid prolonging the virus or getting long covid?

[Dangerscouse]

From what I have read Rob, long Covid isn't something that you can create; you either get it or you don't, and it doesn't discriminate.

Personally, I'd do at least a few sessions of easy rowing just to ease back into it, and assess how you feel. You'll know what a session should feel like in general terms, so use that as your guide for now, and stay patient in building back up.

I've known of people who haven't stopped rowing when they had Covid and didn't suffer at all, so there's a massive variety in opinions and no consensus due to a lack of reliable information from such a new illness.

[Sakly]

I did it the same way as with any other illness. When symptoms stop and I feel ok to move, I go for an easy session. If this feels good, I ramp up intensity during upcoming sessions until back to level before illness (or back off intensity, if it doesn't feel right/good).

[robhely]

Thanks guys, very useful information. I'll try for an easy session soon and listen to my body.

[gvcormac]

People's response varies radically.

I got Covid for the first time in November, about 13 days after getting the "SpikeVax" xbb1.5 booster. It wasn't all that serious and I thought it was gone after 4 days, taking Paxlovid. It came back a week later for another 3 days or so. When I revisited the test I took after the first round, I noticed that it had a faint pink "positive" stripe that I hadn't noticed after the prescribed 15 minute wait. Three days after the rebound, I got a solid and lasting negative.

Throughout, I did my 30 minutes of cardio every day. I postponed my bodyweight training by one day, but didn't skip any.

[p_b82]

I didn't know I had covid until about a week after I had the symptoms of a cold/flu (back in july) - wasn't until I lost my sense of taste that I took a test and it was almost instantly +ve.

I did one row during that week, and it was tough - it was a very slow 15mins that felt like it was an hour at PB pace - I did another session the next week, and I could see from my pace to HR that my lungs were still way off.

Took me about 1.5 months before things started to normalise again and I'd say it was 3 months before I could say I had no lasting effects.

[KeithT]

Just to be clear, I'm not seeking medical advice, just opinions as I find it incredibly helpful to learn from the anecdotal experiences of others. This is often better than some "one size fits all" prescription, which is probably based on anecdotal experience anyway... And my doctor is on holiday

I've had covid for the first time and whilst it was pretty rough for the first 15 hours, it's been mostly just like a mild cold. It's been 9 days since I tested postive and apart from mildly blocked sinuses, I feel fine, have lots of energy and am chomping at the bit to get back on the erg. The big question is: how soon is too soon?

Obviously I don't plan to race my way into a FM or anything silly like that, but I was wondering when it might be OK to slowly easy back into some slow UT2 sessions.

For others who've had covid, how soon did you get back on the erg and what was your recommended strategy to avoid prolonging the virus or getting long covid?

I had COVID twice and I was able to go back to ERGing within a week but....I had lingering effects, some I am not sure I ever fully recovered from. Like others have said , try and see how you feel, just go sow and ease back.

[nick rockliff]

Covid for me came in Sept 2022, had mild cold like symptoms and didn't do a test until my daughter called to say she had tested positive and we had been with her during the previous week. I did a test and was positive but only a faint line so must have been just about over it. Didn't really stop training and was back to normal within a week. Only difference in training was a higher HR which was soon back to normal.

[robhely]

I didn't know I had covid until about a week after I had the symptoms of a cold/flu (back in july) - wasn't until I lost my sense of taste that I took a test and it was almost instantly +ve.

I did one row during that week, and it was tough - it was a very slow 15mins that felt like it was an hour at PB pace - I did another session the next week, and I could see from my pace to HR that my lungs were still way off.

Took me about 1.5 months before things started to normalise again and I'd say it was 3 months before I could say I had no lasting effects.

Wow, that is a very long recovery period. After almost 2 weeks I've still got the annoying cough, but will try a very tentative session this afternoon and see what my heart rate and pace tells me.

[Dangerscouse]

Wow, that is a very long recovery period. After almost 2 weeks I've still got the annoying cough, but will try a very tentative session this afternoon and see what my heart rate and pace tells me.

My only piece of advice is not to overthink it, something I seem to say about almost everything in erging

You may have lingering effects, or you may not, but don't let any preconceived ideas dictate your thoughts, and don't be afraid of pushing it at least a little bit.

Don't confuse a temporary loss of fitness with Covid struggles, although they possibly could be entwined, so keep an open mind and accept a couple of weeks will be a bit tougher than you hoped.

[p_b82]

Wow, that is a very long recovery period. After almost 2 weeks I've still got the annoying cough, but will try a very tentative session this afternoon and see what my heart rate and pace tells me.

I had a cough for about 2 hours only - for me the after effects was a lingering lung inefficiency.

All that meant on the erg was that HR was higher for RPE/pace - It still rowed to my "normal" methods after 2 weeks, but just was aware performance was down a bit and made appropriate allowances - EG slight shorter distances, or slightly reduced pace.

My sister who was diagnosed with long covid after her third dose (plus jabs) got shortness of breath just walking 9 months later... so I think I was actually quite lucky all things considered.

[JaapvanE]

My sister who was diagnosed with long covid after her third dose (plus jabs) got shortness of breath just walking 9 months later... so I think I was actually quite lucky all things considered.

That really sucks. Most people seem to underestimate the effects long COVID can have. Hope she recovers.

[robhely]

My only piece of advice is not to overthink it, something I seem to say about almost everything in erging

You may have lingering effects, or you may not, but don't let any preconceived ideas dictate your thoughts, and don't be afraid of pushing it at least a little bit.

Don't confuse a temporary loss of fitness with Covid struggles, although they possibly could be entwined, so keep an open mind and accept a couple of weeks will be a bit tougher than you hoped.

Haha, overthinking is what I do best!

I was definitely expecting a loss of fitness anyway as I've been travelling for the last month and away from the erg. During that time I was doing a lot of MTBiking and hiking, so my overall fitness was still quite good before I got sick.

The session wasn't a complete disaster, I rowed for 20 minutes at a very modest pace, keeping HR no higher than upper UT2. Pace was around 5 seconds slower than I would expect for a SS session (although mine are usually a lot longer than 20 mins), even though I didn't feel overly tired my heart rate was creeping up way more than it usually does, so I had a back off quite a bit at the end.

All a bit frustrating after having a run of several PBs and feeling like I was making real progress only a month ago.

I'll try pushing it a bit more tomorrow as I'm not feeling any ill-effects from today's test.

[iain]

The session wasn't a complete disaster, I rowed for 20 minutes at a very modest pace, keeping HR no higher than upper UT2. Pace was around 5 seconds slower than I would expect for a SS session (although mine are usually a lot longer than 20 mins), even though I didn't feel overly tired my heart rate was creeping up way more than it usually does, so I had a back off quite a bit at the end.

Consensus is to add 1S/500m for every week of erging missed. not sure how much this is mitigated by MB'ing, but I think this assumes a reasonable level of activity and I have needed to back off more after sedentary periods (althouigh short sedentary periods have usually been associated with greater stress, reduced sleep and usually worse diet...). So I would say the main difference if that you had to cut it short, as DM says, try not to over think it. This is a virus that has a variable impact on people (or even the same person on different occasions) so you need to see how it feels. Hope tyou get back to PBs in the not too distant future!